Ira N. Lind

The influence of Founder Ira N. Lind on the Fraternity's founding and beyond was considerable and lasting. Speaking once about the earliest ΣΑΜ activity, he remarked that if it was in writing it was probably his. He wrote the Creed, which exists today virtually untouched. He was the author of the Blue Book; even with all the many amendments, the sense of it today is much the same. It was Lind who early called ΣΑΜ a "family of brothers" and promoted that concept by providing in the Blue Book the option for transferees to belong to the chapter at their second school, a salutary and symbolic provision. An obvious leader, he succeeded Sam Gaines and so became the second Supreme Prior of the Fraternity.

After graduating from CCNY, Lind went to Fordham University to obtain his law degree. He practiced before going into manufacturing. When he sold his business he stayed as consultant for the new owners. He died there at his desk at the plant in Long Island. He was 77. He married late in life and had no children. He stayed in touch with his fellow Founders as well as fraters from other chapters. A perennial attendee at the old annual New York Founders Banquet, he chose such an occasion to announce a gift of $8,000 to the ΣΑΜ Foundation. When he died, his will provided another $8,000. That was the Foundation’s first bequest and our planned giving vehicle is thus named The Ira Lind Society. The yield from his gift has helped scores of needy student fraters interested in business, as he had specified.